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Last broadcast on Thu, 9 Sep 2010, 13:32 on BBC World Service (see all broadcasts).
Synopsis
The best of the world's arts, film, literature and music brought to you every day. Presented by Bidisha.
In Today's programme: American author Gary Shteyngart talks about his new book Super Sad True Love Story, we visit the Louvre museum in Paris to see art from Saudi Arabia, we meet the American composer who's making an impact on the Bolivia National Symphony Orchestra and a song and dance review about shoes.
Gary Shteyngart
Super Sad True Love Story is a tale of Lenny Abramov, the only book loving 'real human being' left in an America that is over-sexualised and under-empathised, and where books are dismissed in favour of digital absorption. When he falls for the young and beautiful but damaged Eunice Park, he must convince her that despite not being a HNWI (high new worth individual) he still has something to offer her. American author Gary Shteyngart explains how this dystopian vision of the future is not so far from reality.
Saudi art at the Louvre
The Louvre Museum in Paris currently runs an exhibition of art from Saudi Arabia, most of it never seen before. Using maps and keeping a chronological order, Roads to Arabia shows three hundred works which expose the history of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia from prehistoric times to the dawn of the modern world and the birth of Islam.
Above photo shows Anthropomorphic stele
4th millennium B.C.
Sandstone
Riyad National Museum
© Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities
Top photo shows Wall painting,
Qaryat al-Faw, 3rd c. B.C.–3rd c. A.D.,
Riyadh National Museum
© Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities
Bolivia National Symphony Orchestra
An American composer is making an impact in Bolivia's capital La Paz by improving the city's Symphony Orchestra and embracing a pan-Bolivian repertoire. The Strand meets David Handel.
Shoes
Photo by Hugo Glendinning.
From high heels to sneakers to crocs and flips flops, shoes are the real stars of the latest dance and music extravaganza "Shoes" by "Jerry Springer - The Opera" creator, Richard Thomas. Bidisha went down to Sadlers' Wells in London to meet him as well as the lead choreographer of the show, Stephen Mear, to discuss the pains and joys of footwear.
Chapters
Broadcasts
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Wed 8 Sep 201022:32
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Thu 9 Sep 201003:32
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Thu 9 Sep 201009:32
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Thu 9 Sep 201013:32
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